Vitamin E – Scientific Information

Vitamin E is the collective name for what is actually a group of fat-soluble compounds that take eight naturally existing chemical forms, namely, alpha-tocopherol, beta-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol, alpha-tocotrienol, beta-tocotrienol, gamma-tocotrienol, and delta-tocotrienol. [1] In other words, vitamin E comprises four tocopherols and four tocotrienols.

Our liver regulates the level of vitamin E present in our body systems and functions in the metabolism and excretion of vitamin E. It should be noted that although there are eight vitamin E forms, only alpha-tocopherol is recognized by the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (alpha-TTP) and is transferred to the plasma. [2]

Since its discovery by Evans and Bishop in 1922, [3] vitamin E has afforded itself some recognition as a distinct group of vitamins with functions in health and disease that are evidently distinct from other vitamins. In particular, the majority of people often associate vitamin E with its effective and potent antioxidant properties and cell signaling aspects – something that vitamin E is best known for. Vitamin E operates in cell membranes where it puts off the propagation of free radical reactions. [4] Free radicals are molecules with unshared electron. They are of note because they can damage cells and can cause the development of some nasty diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Being an antioxidant, vitamin E aids the body in combating the damage related to oxidative stress. [5]

But not all of vitamin E’s benefits can be assigned to this antioxidative action alone. In fact, vitamin E also possesses other non-antioxidant properties that are as vital as its antioxidant activities as well. For example, alpha-tocopherol appears to suppress cell proliferation, platelet aggregation, and monocyte adhesion; to inhibit protein kinase C, 5-lipoxygenase, and phospholipase A2; and to activate protein phosphatase 2A and diacylglycerol kinase. [6]

Benefits to human health have also been similarly identified for gamma-tocopherol. Gamma-tocopherol has been found to inhibit cyclooxygenase activity (and thus to possess anti-inflammatory properties) and to reduce cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer risks. [7]

At the other end of the spectrum are tocotrienols, which are reported to possess strong neuroprotective, anti-cancer, and cholesterol-lowering actions. [1] Tocotrienols have functions as diverse and important as thwarting oxidative stress induced by UV or ozone, inhibiting LDL oxidation, and downregulating 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (a rate-controlling enzyme of the mevalonate pathway). [8] These activities enable tocotrienol to provide favorable effects to cardiovascular disease patients.

There is a long battery of reasons why we need to ensure vitamin E is present in our diet. As mentioned earlier, it is an antioxidant and keeps some diseases at bay. Because of its protective activity in cell components against the deleterious actions of free radicals and oxidative stress, vitamin might contribute to the prevention of cancer, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, and cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. [9] Vitamin E keeps our general cardiovascular health in good condition: it deters the formation of blood clots that might result eventually in a heart attack or venous thromboembolism [10] and inhibits the oxidation of LDL. [8]

The recommendations from the Food and Nutrition Board are limited to alpha-tocopherol alone, the only form of vitamin E maintained in the plasma, whereas the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin E is expressed in milligrams (mg). [9] A number of foods contain noteworthy amounts of vitamin E, especially nuts, vegetable oils, seeds, fortified cereals, and green leafy vegetables. Wheat germ is a very rich source of vitamin E as well, with 20.3 mg per 1 tablespoon (100 % daily value); other notable sources include liver, eggs, avocado, and yams. [11]

Despite the prevalence of vitamin E supplements, which can be taken orally as soft gels, tablets, or capsules at a dose of 50-1,000 IU, nothing beats the vitamin E obtained from food. Many clinical trials say that a dose of 400-800 IU of vitamin E per day proves to be safe and effective for treating adults and assisting with disease prevention. [11]

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